Key Contact:

Areas of Experience:

Civil Fraud

Regulatory

Consumer

Health and Safety

Financial Crime & Fraud

Practice Profile

Philip Hackett Q.C. specialises in financial regulation, civil and criminal fraud, international corruption and sanctions, health and safety, environment and consumer law. Over the past 25 years he has been instructed in many of the leading financial regulation cases including the most serious matters investigated by the FCA and SFO and other regulatory bodies. This practice has given him considerable experience in banking, accountancy, taxation and market compliance matters. His clients are typically multinational corporations, CEOs, finance directors and other senior officers. He advises on compliance obligations and practice, and at all stages in of investigations into potential breaches.

The international aspects of his practice have resulted in experience of offshore matters in connection with BVI, the Channel Islands, Bermuda and Isle of Man and many European jurisdictions as well as US, Caribbean and Africa. Many of his cases involve multi-jurisdictional investigations. He is the author of the Chapter on the UK Bribery Act in Sweet and Maxwell’s recently published book ‘International Corruption’.

For many years he has been selected as a leading silk by legal directories, including the Legal 500 and Chambers Directory, describing him as ‘an imposing presence in court’, a ‘highly articulate and convincing advocate’ who provides ‘incisive case analysis’ and a ‘tactical advocate who is superb at cross examination’, regarded by solicitors as ‘sensitive to the mood of the client’.

Testimonials

"A confident barrister who presents well and is noted for being prepared to take novel positions in order to further his client's interests. His caseload includes the defence of high-level SFO investigations into fraud, rate manipulation and corruption.
A talented and very experienced advocate.
He is a brilliant tactical silk who can see the bigger picture before anyone else."

Chambers & Partners, 2019

"An imposing court presence and an asset to anyone who instructs him"

Legal 500, 2018

"A confident barrister who presents well and is noted for being prepared to take novel positions in order to further his client's interests. His caseload includes the defence of high-level SFO investigations into fraud, rate manipulation and corruption.

A talented and very experienced advocate. He is a brilliant tactical silk who can see the bigger picture before anyone else."

"One market observer noted that Philip Hackett QC can find an acquittal where others would fail miserably. He is a strong advocate whether in court or in the robing room but he can be measured as well if circumstances demand it."

Chambers UK (Health and Safety)

"The ‘nearly faultless’ Philip Hackett QC is the counsel of choice for many solicitors requiring outstanding expertise in the most complex criminal matters. "

Legal 500 (Fraud)

"Philip Hackett QC is applauded for his magnificent work in relation to fraudulent trading, money laundering and confiscation proceedings. ‘He is a superb advocate and a master tactician’, who is ‘approachable and highly prepared’. A Barrister with the X-factor"

Chambers UK (Fraud)

"Philip Hackett QC is a defence mainstay when it comes to corporate and gross negligence manslaughter inquiries. He impresses with his ‘clarity of thought and ability to get to the nub of a case quickly and effectively’"

Chambers UK (Health and Safety)

"Solicitor favourite. He is known for doing ‘a great job in the most difficult circumstances’, Fiercely bright, highly articulate and very persuasive"

Chambers (Fraud)

"A lawyer who ‘knows exactly what questions to ask’. ‘Highly sensitive to the mood of the court’. "

Chambers (Health and Safety)

Work Undertaken

Civil and Commercial Fraud

International Corruption and Sanctions

Financial Services and Regulatory Law

Health & Safety and Environmental Regulation

Civil and Criminal Commercial Fraud

Philip Hackett is regularly instructed at the earliest stage when an investigation becomes a possibility, advising on steps to ensure a favourable outcome together with the preservation of confidentiality and LPP. He also advises at the earliest point on civil remedies in fraud cases including alternative dispute resolutions. He has considerable experience in all related areas such as freezing and restraint orders, asset tracing and mutual legal assistance and other issues in multi-jurisdictional cases. Experience and expertise in commercial, banking and auditing leads to him being instructed on behalf of the CEO or Finance Director or the company. He has acted in respect of many of the leading fraud cases including;

• Advising and representing numerous parties in challenging or seeking production orders, warrants and restraint and freezing orders.

• Advising on freezing orders and ancillary relief in support of foreign proceedings.

• Representing senior partner of firm of solicitors charged by SFO together with other solicitors, a QC and executives of Celtic Mining over the transfer of mining rights and obligations to BVI companies.

• Resisting SFO application for a voluntary Bill of Indictment after the dismissal of the above case by a High Court Judge.

• Representing financier of application for a gaming licence over allegation of fraudulent letters of creditworthiness.

• Advising on jurisdiction of English Court in respect of civil fraud proceedings arising from corporate activity in Lithuania.

• Representing offshore re insurance company in resisting civil claim for fraud by

• Representing liquidator in civil claim for fraud against company directors.

• Representing lead underwriter of Lloyds Syndicate in respect of allegations of false accounting.

• Representing finance director of Maxwell group of companies.

• Representing finance director of Isle of Man Company in respect of allegation of false accounting.

• Representing CEO of Gulf group in respect of prosecution arising from relationship with BCCI.

• Representing CEO of Attock Oil charged in respect of relationship with BCCI.

• Representing property developer charged together with solicitor in respect of allegations of mortgage fraud.

• Representing independent auditor of Isle of Man Bank against fraud allegations following insolvency of bank.

International Corruption and Sanctions

Philip Hackett has advised on self-reporting, whistleblowing and internal enquiries and has considerable experience of multi jurisdictional cases and negotiations with multiple regulators including civil settlements and plea agreements. He regularly lectures for organisations such as the IBA, the Commonwealth Lawyers association on international bribery and corruption compliance matters. He has recently conducted seminars for the Nigerian Bar Association and Europol.

Cases in the public domain include British Aerospace; V Mobile; Oil for Food; Innospec and the prosecution of former cabinet ministers in Turks and Caicos.

• Advising on responses to HMRC enquiries and investigations, disclosure Facility Cases, Code of Practice 9 cases and cases before the Tax Tribunals.

Health & Safety and Environmental Regulation

Since defending the Captain of the Herald of Free Enterprise Philip Hackett has specialized in numerous manslaughter, environmental and health and safety cases. He has particular experience in the construction and road haulage industries and duties under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations.

• Advising company and directors in respect of manslaughter investigation following death caused by automatic gates.